Bill > HB218

This bill makes the following key changes: 1. It amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow peace officers to issue citations instead of arresting individuals for certain low-level possession offenses involving marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, and drug paraphernalia. 2. It creates a new process for expunging records related to these low-level possession offenses if the charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted. 3. It creates a presumption of deferred adjudication for first-time offenders charged with certain low-level possession offenses, and requires the court to notify them of their expunction rights. 4. It adds new categories of "Penalty Group 2-B" to regulate certain synthetic cannabinoids and makes conforming changes throughout the Health and Safety Code. 5. It reduces the criminal penalties for certain low-level marijuana possession offenses from Class B or A misdemeanors to Class C or B misdemeanors. 6. It adds exceptions to the criminal penalties for certain drug offenses if the individual sought emergency medical assistance for an overdose. 7. It modifies the consequences under the Transportation Code related to the suspension of driver's licenses for drug offenses punishable only by fine.